Surface condenser



N. E. TAYLOR SURFACE CONDENSER Filed April 23. 1.924

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Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEWELL E'TAYLOR, or LBRQOKLT'N, NEw YORK, AssIG-NoE'ro INGERSOLL-RAND com:- rm, or JERSEY oIrY, NEW'JERSEY, .A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

' Application filed April 23,1924. Serial No. 708,352.

To all whom it may concern: p

Be it known that I, :NEWELL E. TAYLOR, a

citizen of the United States and a resident of Brooklyn, count of liings, city and State of New York, ave invented a certain SurfaceCo'ndenser, ofwhich the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

' This invention relates to condensers, but more particularlyto that type of condenser known as surface condenser, wherein a plurality of water tubes extend through a chambe r transverse'to the current of steam to be condensed and provide cooling surface for absorbing heat to condensethe steam.

The increase in the temperature of the water passing through the tubes results in a smaller temperature difference between the steam and the water, and therefore a smaller capacityforcondensation at the dis charge end of the tubes than at the inlet end. The increase in water temperature and therefore the decrease in capacity for .condensation is pro ressive from the waterinlet end of the tubes to the Water outlet end. In order that the full capacit for condensation of all the tube surface utilized, it is therefore necessary that a greater amount of steam shall flow to the end of the condenser at which water enters the tubes than to the water discharge end of the condenser. With the same drop in steam pressure from the point of steam entrance to the point of air extraction for all transverse cross sections throughout the length of the condenser sufficient steam will not flow across the cooler ends of the tubes to prevent relatively stagnant flow; across the lower tubes attheir cooler ends unless the resistance to flow of steam is less at the cooler than at the warmer ends :of the tubes. The relatively stagnant flow results in lower rate of heat transfer from the steam to the water through the lower tubes at their cooler ends.

It is an object of this invention to enable both ends of the condenser to be operated at full capacity, thereby utilizing the entire steam condensing surface-of the water tubes and resulting in an equal depth of penetration of the steam uniformly throughout the length of the condenser.

The invention will be more clearly understood by referrin to the drawing, which illustrates in vertical longitudinal section,

a water tube surface condenser in accordance with the practice .of this invention.

The shell or casing Ais provided with an inlet 13 for the steam to be condensed and -an outlet C through which the condensate,

and incondensible' gas is removed b suitable evacuating apparatus. A plura ity of wather tubes D extend longitudinally in the casing A substantially transverse to the direction of steam flow and are supported at the inlet water head E by means of a tube sheet F and at the discharge -head G in a tube sheet H. -A central plate J prevents the tubes from sagging an vibrating.

y In order to prevent the steam from penetrating more deeply at the warmer end than at the cooler end of the condenser, which would result in wasted tube surface at the lower part of the cooler end of the condenser, the tubes D are arranged to converge somewhat toward the warmer end. This is accomplished preferably by utilizing straight water tubes but spaced closer together in the tube sheets H than inthe tube sheets F. The convergence or inclination of the tubes with respect toeach other is tube supporting-- uniform from end to end. Thus, while the area exposed to the steam by the pipes is the same at all cross sections, the interstices or area permitted for the steam to pass between the tubes, radually diminishesfrom the 0001 end of the tubes toward the warm, end and the resistance to the steam flow uniformly increases in that direction.

Thus, with a given degree of vacuum at the outlet 0, a greater volume of steam will pztss through the condenser over the tubes D at the cooler end that at the warmer 1. A surface condenser, comprisinga cas- 1 1 ing having a steam inlet and an outlet for condensate and non-condensible gases, and a plurality of water tubes extending longitudinally therethrough transverse to the direction of the steam flow, said tubes being uniformly convergent from the cooler end of the condenser to the warmer end to provide substantially the same condensing area for the steam at all cross sections and uniforl'nly diminishing the area for the passage of steam therebetween, whereby the steam is caused to penetrate to uniform depth throughout the condenser.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

NEWELL E. TAYLOR. 

